Monday, October 6, 2014

Building materials at DART bus stands are prone to vandalism

As the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in the country’s commercial
city of Dar es Salaam is about to kick off, the infrastructures installed at the
newly constructed bus stand facilities for the project along
Morogoro Road in the city are prone to vandalism, the survey by the Guardian can establish. A one week
survey carried out in some structures along the road has shown that, most of
them have been invaded by some youths who have turned them to be their most
dwelling places throughout the day taking on siestas and at the same time the
facilities provides accommodation for them during night hours. A spot check on
Wednesday night this week, found scores of youths who when interviewed claimed to
have no homes or rooms in vicinity of the city suburbs and instead have
resorted to seek for accommodation in these bus stand structures. This reporter
witnessed some broadsheet pieces of boxes torn in parts and spread on the floor
used as appropriate beddings for the seemingly life frustrated youths who are
homeless in the city of Dar es Salaam. However, the Guardian has discovered
that their presence is posing danger of vandalism to some building materials made
up of iron, others like wire mesh, water sinks and many if available in these
newly constructed State-of-the-art facilities. Some interviewed youths who
spoke without knowing were speaking to a news reporter said that, have no
enough money to hire a room in the suburb as they are engaged in petty trading activities
of some goods at the city centre notably at Kariakoo business hub which gives
them minimal profit margin. While some noted that, have moved from Kariakoo
area where they used to accommodate themselves in narrow corridors and some on
the verandas of big shops, and after having faced with such difficulties have
actually appreciated for the large open spaces at these bus stands whose areas are
enough to accommodate over 400 people at a time.

A typical example of some newly constructed Bus stands for RBT in Dar es Salaam as it is seen from above at Ubungo.

“I am a Machinga at Kariakoo
main business centre and my earnings are too little that I cannot afford the
monthly costs of renting a room in the city’s suburbs, so have found this area
is more convenient for the time being” said one youth who could not want to
identify himself. Contacted for comments, a spokesperson of the construction
company, Strabag Ltd Yahya Mkumba said that, there are a number of cases related
to vandalism have already been reported and the police are on the lookout for
offenders. He told the Guardian in a telephone interview on Thursday this week
that, these cases are related to the missing of some wire mesh, iron water
pipes and some other iron made materials from two bus stands which they have
handed over to Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS). However, he said adding that,
police at Magomeni police station are investigating the issue to help net the
culprits. However, he noted that, the company is in place to put a fence to
beef up security in some bus stands which are still under construction and yet
to be handed over, the move is in a bid to suppress intrusion by unauthorized
persons. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS)
Patrick Mfugale said in a telephone interview when contacted for comments over
the matter and said that the primary role of the TANROADS was to ensure that,
bus stand structures are constructed. However, he continued and said that, for
the case of impending vandalism, he directed this reporter to contact the DART
officials to get clarification over the matter and switched on his mobile
phone. Efforts to contact the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transport (DART) officials hit
a snag for when their landline telephone answered the call, the receiver noted
that the officials concerned were not present at that time.

1 comment:

HI SIR,Am Salum, Iam interested on your articles regarding to construction issues as am working in construction company in Dar es salaam.Please would you be interested for further contact?Mobile: 0655 893 793Email: ashraphsalum@yahoo.com Am looking for further contactsThanks

AWARD 1

I won the second prize in policy category of the African Information society Initiative ( AISI) awards 2004 which is annually organized by the United Nations- Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA) based in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. On the first photo above standing with other awardees after the Ceremony at the National Settlers monument in Grahamstown, South Africa.This was during the 8th Highway Africa Conference.The second photo shows the cross section of Jounalists from different African countries who attended the ceremony.

AWARD 2

I also won the AISI-GKP/SDC Media Award special reporting on WSIS process and Africa, and conferred with the award in Tunis, Tunisia during WSIS summit in 2005. See the photo above.

AWARD 3

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about " Stigma denial and Discrimination" associated with HIV/AIDS. This was organized by theAssociation of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT). On the Photo above President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, ( then the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony.This was at Maelezo auditorium in Dar-es-Salaam September 2005.

AWARD 4

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about "Vulnerable Children" associated with HIV/AIDS This was organized by the Association of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT)

AWARD 5

Winner of the National ICT Media Award organized By SWOPNET in the Country. On the photo above Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General ( Rt) Saidi Kalembo was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony which was held at New Sarvoy Hotel in morogoro town.I was awarded a Mobile phone and a tape-recorder.

AWARD 6

I participated in the Media Competition in writing about VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) in Tanzania which was held between July 15th and October 30th 2008 whereby I emerged among the top five winners. The competition was under the program known as “Tanzania bila Ukwimwi inawezekana” which literally means, Tanzania without AIDS disease transmission is possible”. This is a program which was organizedby the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) under TACAIDS funding. In the photo, I am being presented with a certificate of participation by the Chairman of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Dr. Fatma Mrisho in a colorful ceremony which was held on 22nd December 2008 at Tanzania Information Centre in Dar es Salaam.

AWARD 7

AWARD 8

AWARD 9

I was among the top 17 best selected students who excelled in their final examinations of the 2010/2011 academic year and awarded with the Vice-Chancellor’s prize. I scored 4.5 GPA (First Class) in BA in Journalism. Above I am being given a certificate by the Chairman of the Open University of Tanzania Board of Senate. Standing at the centre facing camera is the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tolly Mbwette. Extreme left partly hidden is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Elifas Bisanda. This occasion took place during the convocation meeting, a day before the graduation day at the prospective permanent headquarter of the Open University of Tanzania which is currently under construction at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region 40 kilometers away west of Dar es Salaam city.